Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Read 9315 times

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Frankly, Mr Shankly

Guest

Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Jun 07, 2019 10:32:53 am

Some of you would have already seen it on twitter but Arsene Wenger (very eloquently) made an interesting point on beIN sports during the aftermath of our Champions League Final victory. He noted that if there is an area we can improve on it is the technical quality and reading twitter/other forums many have pointed towards the midfield as an area where that improvement on a technical level can be made. But Arsene did counter this by saying that sometimes in search of technical brilliance you potentially undo/overlook the emotional and attitudinal qualities that he says has made us European champions.

Now if you look at our midfield options going into pre season we have:

GiniMilnerHendoKeitaFabinhoChamberlainShaqiriLallana (still unsure whether he will definitely be here next season)

Strong options I'm sure you'd agree. But can we improve on that? For me, I see a group of midfielders that are technically very good but even better in terms of physicality, work rate and most of all, attitude. In terms of technique for sure we can improve but what is it that we have to improve upon if you believe that our midfield can be improved upon? And, if a new midfielder did come into the team what would his role be and what would his qualities be?

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Some of you would have already seen it on twitter but Arsene Wenger (very eloquently) made an interesting point on beIN sports during the aftermath of our Champions League Final victory. He noted that if there is an area we can improve on it is the technical quality and reading twitter/other forums many have pointed towards the midfield as an area where that improvement on a technical level can be made. But Arsene did counter this by saying that sometimes in search of technical brilliance you potentially undo/overlook the emotional and attitudinal qualities that he says has made us European champions.

Now if you look at our midfield options going into pre season we have:

GiniMilnerHendoKeitaFabinhoChamberlainShaqiriLallana (still unsure whether he will definitely be here next season)

Strong options I'm sure you'd agree. But can we improve on that? For me, I see a group of midfielders that are technically very good but even better in terms of physicality, work rate and most of all, attitude. In terms of technique for sure we can improve but what is it that we have to improve upon if you believe that our midfield can be improved upon? And, if a new midfielder did come into the team what would his role be and what would his qualities be?

Good questions and thread.

I would argue we don't need a new player, because the quality that perhaps was least evident in our midfield this season (and I'm talking very small margins), is the skillful, slasher, creative type. But both of those can come from a fit and settled Naby Keita and a fit Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain . It reminds that we performed as highly as we did without a major contribution from either of these players (especially Alex). Get them back and on song and we can be even better.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

When Wenger talks of that technical brilliance player, I think he is more referring to a playmaker type, isn't he? Someone like Coutinho, Isco, B.Silva, D.Silva, Messi, J.Rodriguez etc? I actually think we have that type of player in Shaqiri. Shaqiri may not be as good as your Silva's, Eriksen and Messi, Coutinho and Isco, but his left foot is sure as hell as good, if not better as their main foot. He certainly has the ability.

As for our midfield, I think it's a perfectly balanced group. We have a strong mixture of technical and industrious group of midfielders. Where Hendo and Milner are more your industrious players, we then have players like Keita, Lallana, Ox and Wijnaldum who are technically strong but have that industrious edge to them.

I don't think we need to add anymore to our midfielder area, especially knowing Lallana and Milner are 99% staying with Keita in his second season and the return of Ox. However, I do think we can upgrade, but definitely not needed.

If we do decide on upgrading, I would love to see us linked to the likes of, Rabiot, Saul, Ndombele or Aouar for the MC role, and for the playmaking one, Maddison or Fekir would be great!

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

When Wenger talks of that technical brilliance player, I think he is more referring to a playmaker type, isn't he? Someone like Coutinho, Isco, B.Silva, D.Silva, Messi, J.Rodriguez etc? I actually think we have that type of player in Shaqiri. Shaqiri may not be as good as your Silva's, Eriksen and Messi, Coutinho and Isco, but his left foot is sure as hell as good, if not better as their main foot. He certainly has the ability.

As for our midfield, I think it's a perfectly balanced group. We have a strong mixture of technical and industrious group of midfielders. Where Hendo and Milner are more your industrious players, we then have players like Keita, Lallana, Ox and Wijnaldum who are technically strong but have that industrious edge to them.

I don't think we need to add anymore to our midfielder area, especially knowing Lallana and Milner are 99% staying with Keita in his second season and the return of Ox. However, I do think we can upgrade, but definitely not needed.

If we do decide on upgrading, I would love to see us linked to the likes of, Rabiot, Saul, Ndombele or Aouar for the MC role, and for the playmaking one, Maddison or Fekir would be great!

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

I see Fekir more an attacking midfielder/forward than attacking midfielder/midfielder, therefore I see him rotating with Firmino and Salah more than a midfielder player. I think he would offer more creativity to unlock low block teams than Firmino if played as a false 9, he also has a mean accurate left foot!

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

I dont think we need any more. It was a real strength of ours as it was last season. Add into the equation Keita will improve for the run and Ox will be ready to roll next season after a full pre season too. Those 2 things alone should see us improve the midfield that was already strong.

Grujic is also a wildcard entry if he is wanted here by Klopp next season.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

I’d say we are still lacking that replacement for Coutinho so if a player like Fekir or Fernandes came in then I think we would benefit because we could do with more productivity in attack from the midfield but I wouldn’t say we need a midfielder as a priority. Certainly don’t need one in a similar mould to what we already have.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Yes we most certainly do, the secret of a winning side imo is to strengthen when possible and if the right bloke is available, but he has to fit in like a hand to a glove,

Lots of clickbait surrounding Coutinho atm and although I wouldn't say no to his return i think though that that ship has sailed, A player that sticks out for me is Ruben Neves from Wolves, he's already a top player but imagine what working with Klopp would do for his career, Now yes, we do have a abundance of midfielders, however, Millies legs can't last forever no matter how much Ribena he has, Lallana is to injury prone and i think he'll be gone before August anyway, Its quality we need to add to our ranks, yes Hendo, Gini, Naby, Ox et al tick all the boxes but we still need to have like or like replacement's,Ruben Neves is a player I believe would thrive and give Jürgen a few selection headaches next season, he's quality and fits the bill for me.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Yes we most certainly do, the secret of a winning side imo is to strengthen when possible and if the right bloke is available, but he has to fit in like a hand to a glove,

Lots of clickbait surrounding Coutinho atm and although I wouldn't say no to his return i think though that that ship has sailed, A player that sticks out for me is Ruben Neves from Wolves, he's already a top player but imagine what working with Klopp would do for his career, Now yes, we do have a abundance of midfielders, however, Millies legs can't last forever no matter how much Ribena he has, Lallana is to injury prone and i think he'll be gone before August anyway, Its quality we need to add to our ranks, yes Hendo, Gini, Naby, Ox et al tick all the boxes but we still need to have like or like replacement's,Ruben Neves is a player I believe would thrive and give Jürgen a few selection headaches next season, he's quality and fits the bill for me.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

I think it will be a lot to do with what formation we're going to go with mext season. If we start with 4 2 3 1, like we did last season, then the rumours for Bruno Fernández are justified. Problem is can Bobby play as that out and out striker. Bobby does like to drop deep and pick up the ball, he's a workhorse when he plays that false 9 in a 4 3 3 so is he suited to that 9 position. Of course Salah can play 9 with a new 10 behind and we'll have Ox next season who can play on the right. It will be a lot tougher next season and the need to rotate will be there again and there will be a lot more pressure on us to perform as we did this season with all (except the plastics) the top 6 improving their squads. So do we need another midfielder, maybe.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

GiniMilnerHendoKeitaFabinhoChamberlainShaqiriLallana (still unsure whether he will definitely be here next season)

Rumors we are after Pepe, and that looks like a signing to add depth in terms of quality and numbers, probably a replacement for Wilson. I would class him as a front-3 signing.

Now, if we decide to move on Lallana, the rumored 'lesser' fee for Fekir would be definitely worth the gamble, and with a good stock of midfielders, he would be rotated and not stretched in terms of playing time, like our front-3 for the last 2 seasons.

Have said this before, our build-up play last season was primarily through the full backs, a direct consequence of our mids playing compact and protecting the defense. If there is one area where we could improve, it would be playing through the middle a lot more and thats the reference that Arsene makes. Technically gifted, crafty #10 to dissect opposition midfield and defense, and Fekir would be immense in that regard. And one of the reasons we sought Fekir last summer was his ability to press from the front, in that false 9 position that Bobby has mastered.

Considering all that, think we'll line up in combinations of

4-3-3:

Mane/Origi - Bobby/Fekir - Mo/PepeNaby/Milly - Fab/Gini - Ox/Hendo

4-2-3-1:

Mo/OrigiMane/Naby - Fekir/Bobby - Pepe/ShaqFab/Gini - Hendo/Ox

4-2-2-2:

Mo/Mane Bobby/FekirNaby/Milly Pepe/Shaq Gini/Fab Hendo/Ox

Remains to be seen if we would bring in both Pepe ANNNNDD Fekir. I hope we do cos we should be gunning for all trophies without a hint of weakness in our fielding 11, no matter the cup or the opponent.

Re: Do we need a new midfielder this summer?

Hahhaha put on FB replying to someone that it's a shame Hazzard has left The Premier League, he could have joined us for 200 million pounds. Someone put and where do you think you could fit him in our side?